Politicizing sports for money condemned as the world prepares for Russia 2018

Sports Head of Radio Imagine at Ploshchard Vosstaniya in Saint Petersburg, Evgeny Lykov has expressed his indignation about how countries politicise sports for monetary gains. According to him, although the current state of global sports is regrettable, he is hoping for a fair festival in Russia.

Ghana became infamous in the international news during the 2014 World Cup after the country airlifted about 3 million dollars to Brazil and the subsequent controversies that surrounded some unsupported expenditure in Ghana’s participation in the World Cup.

“Nowadays it’s hard to think of sports as it was in the 70s and 80s because sports is messed up with politics, business and money but we (Russia) will do pure sports,” Evgeny assured. “A lot of people do sports under pretence without history and rules,” he added.

The football pundit is hopeful language barrier will be on the low during the World Cup games and therefore welcomed Africa and the rest of the world to the biggest international sports festival in Russia.

Even though Ghana is yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup that would be played in Russia, he told TV3 the media and football fans in Russia are feverishly expecting to host Ghana Black Stars for the tournament.

During a visit to the under construction Saint Petersburg Stadium middle this year, the 2018 World Cup Local Organizing Committee said the over sixty-eight thousand (68, 000) capacity stadium was eight –four (84) percent ready. At an estimated cost of 35 billion Russia rubles, the edifice located at Krestovsky in Saint Petersburg is replacing the old Kirov Stadium for the football festival.

Transport networks linking the stadium to other parts of the beautiful city include trains, buses, taxis and boats.

Some football fans of diverse nationalities who were upbeat about the World Cup spoke to TV3 News in Russia.

“We’re glad that Brazil and the rest of the world will come to Russia. Our stadia are prepared to host this event,” Roma Ivan said in Russian language. “It will be a pleasure to see countries from Africa.

Ghana is a respected team which many people in Brazil support,” Nicholas Bernado, a Brazilian also related. For a Ghanaian, Eric Frimpong, “I pray the Black Stars will qualify, be part and win FIFA 2018.”